DUBOIS: We Care for Kids (WCFK), a nonprofit dedicated to providing essential items to students in the DuBois Area School District, has significantly expanded since its founding in 2018. Today and tomorrow, you can support their mission simply by eating at Buck's Pizza and showing this flyer when checking out:
We reached out to Josh Benton of Buck's Pizza who shared the following about fundraisers like this, "It's a win-win-win. Great for the non-profit, great for the customers, and great for Buck's Pizza. It's an easy way to raise money for the non-profit while also raising awareness about the non-profit's mission, as well as awareness about Buck's Pizza It's a delicious way to benefit all three parties."
WCFK operates clothing closets at the high school, middle school, all four elementary schools, and Jeff Tech opens twice a month throughout the school year. Staff at each of the schools are able to access the closets on a daily basis for the needs of the students. The high school-level clothing closet serves approximately 70+ students per month, the middle school approximately 100 per month, and the elementary schools serve approximately 300 students per month.
To personalize the initiative, each elementary school has given its clothing closet a unique name. For example, Juniata Elementary School’s closet is called “Trendy Treasures,” while Oklahoma Elementary School has named theirs “Oklahoma Outfitters.”
At the high school level, “The Armoire” typically serves between 60 and 70 students per month, while the middle school’s closet, “Kool Threads,” sees approximately 200 students shopping for essentials.
Origins and Mission
WCFK was established when a group of local women partnered with DuBois Area School District Superintendent Wendy Benton, who recognized the need for students to have access to clothing and other necessities. Since then, district staff have actively supported the initiative, helping to ensure its success.
“We treat every student equally,” President Susan Hassan said in a 2023 press release. “Our goal is to accommodate the specific needs of each individual. This is our passion—helping kids.”
The organization provides a welcoming, judgment-free shopping experience where students can pick up items such as clothing, shoes, school supplies, and hygiene products at no cost.
Expanding Beyond DuBois
The nonprofit’s reach is growing beyond the DuBois Area School District. WCFK will manage the clothing closet at Jeff Tech (Jefferson County Vocational Technical School). The organization plans to staff the closet once a month to assist students. They recently held a prom dress shopping event for two days.
Since its inception, WCFK has expanded from a five-member team to more than two dozen volunteers. The increase in volunteers has allowed the group to assign dedicated roles, apply for more grants, and further extend its services.
Several retired teachers have joined the cause, eager to continue supporting local youth. “With more hands, we can help more students,” Hassan said.
Strengthening Community Connections
Additionally, WCFK has teamed up with Fayette Resources, which has provided storage space for the elementary clothing closet supplies. Their staff members also assist in sorting and organizing the donations. Along with Fayette, WCFK have also partnered with Life Span for additional storage space for the Middle School, High School, Pentz Run, and Jeff Tech Supplies. “They have all been an incredible support system for us”.
Maximizing Donations
Donations that are unsuitable for school-aged children do not go to waste. Instead, WCFK ensures that these items benefit other community organizations:
- Haven House Shelter in DuBois receives any clothing items that don’t meet student needs.
- Won By One For Jamaica
- Women Of The Well
- Behavorial Health (Penn Highlands)
- Salvation Army
“No single organization can meet all the needs of a community,” Hassan said. “By working together, we can make a bigger impact.”
Notably, 100% of all WCFK donations go directly to supporting local students—none of the funds are used for administrative costs.
Ongoing Community Support
Community backing has been instrumental in WCFK’s growth. The organization has held fundraisers at Bucks Pizza, Luigi’s Ristaurante, and others. Among other key supporters of the organization Treasure Lake Church, DuBois Rotary, and great support from WalMart all continue to be very helpful.
How to Get Involved
WCFK welcomes both monetary and gently-used clothing donations. Items can be dropped off at any of the schools or Luv 2 Sew 4 U at 69 Beaver Drive in DuBois.
To learn more or get involved, contact
